A bitter war of words has broken out between Raith Rovers and Rangers over the recall of the Glasgow side’s youngster Ryan Hardie from Scotland Under-19 duty.
The Kirkcaldy side issued a statement on Thursday night alleging that Rangers assistant manager David Weir helped secure the player’s release before the Under-19s face Bulgaria tonight.
That meant Hardie would be available for tomorrow’s game against Rovers at Ibrox however, Raith would be without on-loan Dundee striker Craig Wighton who has remained with the squad.
The Raith statement in part read: “Ahead of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Championship match versus Rangers at Ibrox, Raith Rovers FC has asked the Scottish FA’s Compliance Officer to consider whether he agrees that Rangers FC, through David Weir, have breached SFA Articles and Rules by requesting and securing the early release of its player Ryan Hardie from international duty with Scotland Under-19s in Bulgaria, for the sole reason that he is then available to play against Raith Rovers.”
Now though, Rangers have blasted back insisting that Weir’s character has been “besmirched” and that Raith were also offered the option of recalling Wighton but declined.
In a statement, the Glasgow club said: Rangers FC insists there are no grounds for Raith Rovers’ allegation that a rule breach may have been committed by the Club.
“Rangers also consider that Raith Rovers’ spurious claim could have besmirched the honour of assistant manager David Weir by making specific reference to him.
“Neither Rangers nor David Weir acted wrongly in requesting the return from Under-19 Scotland duty of Ryan Hardie ahead of tomorrow’s Ladbrokes Championship match against Raith Rovers.
“This was done with the approval of the SFA, within the rules and in the full knowledge that Raith Rovers would be offered the same opportunity to bring Craig Wighton, their loan player from Dundee, home.
“They declined but then issued a statement alleging Rangers has somehow broken the rules. This action is baffling.
“Rangers, as many other clubs have done in the past, acted within the rules and the very thought that David Weir, who served his country with great distinction winning 69 caps, might have been trying to undermine an international side is preposterous.
“Rangers has also written directly to Raith Rovers Chief Executive Eric Drysdale seeking to understand his club’s motive behind such vexatious action and an apology to David is the very least Raith Rovers should be offering.”